Custom African Influenced Occasionwear

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Tag Archives: KENTE PRINT

Have you ever purchased an outfit and then spends weeks trying to find the right accessories to match it or are you the reverse, you purchase the accessories first and then search for an outfit to match.

There truly is no wrong or right way to coordinate separates however one thing you must try not to do is use the same bag for every single outfit….( Not cute )

Accessories can make or break an outfit, for example you all should know by now that at Styles Afrik we are not really fond of the typical little black cocktail dress, however this paired with the right accessories can completely transform the outfit.

In-light of this we have recently launched our new range of clutch bags. These can be made using the same fabric as your outfit or you may simply wish to add some spice to that plain outfit you have in the closet.

As most of you may know the Kente Cloth originated in Ghana and is still one of the true gems to still be made and sourced from Ghana. March the 6th marks Ghana Independence day we are sure many Ghanaians will be wearing there Kente cloths with pride.

However you do not have to be Ghanaian to wear the kente cloth, many like it because of its bright bold colours and royal look.

At the Styles Afrik we have used Kente Print in African Wax Cotton for our designs. So weather you want to make your dress in time to celebrate Ghana Independence or you wish to wear this for Prom or a wedding. Here are some inspirational designs.

Jumpsuits/Rompers/Boiler Suits have been around since the late 60’s , 70’s, throughout the years as always with fashion its had many makeovers.

In Spring/Summer 2013 Jumpsuits were re introduced to a new generation of fashionistas, GONE were the 80’s denim dungarees your mum got you to wear to school and IN were the one shoulder, off shoulder, strapless jumpsuits.

Then in 2014 we got hit with floral and patterns, so now you had jumpsuits in a floral print. In 2015 the boiler suit made an appearance. Forget your standard uniform boiler suits these were trendy and had flattering cuts that cinched in the waist to show the womanly figure teamed with accessories and some strappy heels or stilettos that was it for your night on the town.

One thing i love about a good Jumpsuit is its perfect for all occasions, you know that dress code ( Smart- Casual ) well a jumpsuit is perfect for that. Or if your going to a wedding, awards party, night on the town with the girls..with the right accessories and shoes its a wrap. We obviously will not focus on the matter of having completely undress in order to use the washroom. – Whoever said looking good was easy

So as you all may know by now i am an advocate for Bold Colours, Prints and Patterns so our 2017 Jumpsuit collection definitely had to incorporate this.

We currently have 3 Jumpsuit Silhouettes in our catalogue each of these pays homage to the jumpsuits from the late 60’s, 70’s, 80 and 2000’s ( notice we left out the noughts ) the less said about that decade the better lol.

This Jumpsuit gives a throwback to the 70’s/current trends, the use of the cape is very 70’s, then the one shoulder shows a bit of skin just to create that allure feel but not to much, the trousers are tailored cut and comes with a fitted waist to create a beautiful shape and silhouette. This definitely one of our favourites as seen worn by @kishmykurls. This design teamed with African print is amazing and can be worn to any event and is truly a showstopper.

They say the shoulder is one of the sexiest parts of a woman’s body…so if that is the case why not create a jumpsuit that shows exactly that. The Sofi Jumpsuit has a big bold flare that simply skims off the shoulder then has the latest trend to come back from the 50’s and 60’s ( The cigarette pants ) so combine the 2 together and you have a jumpsuit that shows off not only those sexy shoulders but also gives the illusion of having long gorgeous legs.

Well this jumpsuit is not for the shy, 2016 was all about the deep plunge and we have carried that over into 2017. Teamed with tailored trousers, again this is one of those jumpsuits teamed with strappy heels with gorgeous accessories looks amazing definitely a show stopper.

So this concludes our jumpsuit edition guys hope you liked it be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates and designs.

Today we are publishing Styles Afriks Top 10 Red Carpet and Prom Dresses Must haves for 2017.

This is no particular order, however these are some of favourites that we know will dazzle on the red carpet or at any event.

If you disagree with our top 10 send us comment and let us know what you would include in your Top 10.

So Lets Start:

No.1 : ENYA One Shoulder Dress – This is a New Edition to Styles Afrik only just launching yesterday but we know its going to be very popular. Fusing African Print with Luxurious Duchess Satin this will look amazing on all shapes and sizes. Click Here to Shop

No 2 : LATRICE PANELLED ARM CUFF DRESS – One of our best sellers the latrice is a very flattering fit using African print to create a curvy silhouette in the front and back of the dress and Duchess satin to smooth the sides of the dress. Available in over 70 different fabrics. Order your now Click Here to Shop

NO.3 OHEEMA JUMPSUIT – Another Top Seller, Red Carpets don’t always have to be dresses, this cape jumpsuit is definitely a show stopper. A very flattering fit with tailored trousers. Pair this with some strapped heels and watch them stare… Click Here To Shop

No.4 POKUA DRESS – If you love fitted mermaid strapless dresses then this one is definitely for you. Using African print for the body of the dress and then wait for it 2 layers of duchess satin for the lower skirt, with its long train hopefully no one will step on it out of pure jealousy lol

NO.5 KAMILYA 2 PIECE fish tail dress – This dress is not for the faint hearted with its off shoulder sleeve and cross over top exposing a little mid reef we love this dress as it allows you to be sexy but classy. Click Here to Shop

No.6 AFUA Strappy Mermaid Dress – We love the silhouette of this strappy dress, with its low back and exposing thick straps low cut v neckline it is soo chic Click Here to Shop

NO.7 SADE FOLD OVER DRESS – Raise you hand if you this shoulders are sexy…well we do and thats why we designed the SADE dress…With its fitted silhouette dress and exposing fold over top this dress enhances all the right features. Click Here to Shop

No.8 BISA Mermaid Dress – One of the first designs in the Styles Afrik catalogue this one is definitely a classic and the one good thing about classics is they never go out of style.

No.9 LOLA Panelled Wiggle Dress – Lets keep it simple, lets show off some shoulders a little leg and some cleavage with this Lola Combination dress. Click Here to Shop

Last on the list: NO.10 The AVA Maxi Coat and AKUA shift dress can be Worn Separately or together or you can also add our Cigarette trousers as well. Whatever the combination guaranteed you will look like an African Princess.

So we hope you enjoyed our top 10 to view all the designs listed here visit www.stylesafrik.co.uk please leave us your comments at the bottom also.

So as many of you may know at Styles- Afrik we love to use Kente Print in alot of our designs. So we thought today we would share with you the history behind the Kente Cloth and what each colour on a Kente Cloth represents.

So here is some history……

Kente cloth, known as nwentom in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan ethnic group of South Ghana. Kente is made in Akan lands such as Ashanti Kingdom, (Bonwire, Adanwomase, Sakora Wonoo, Ntonso in the Kwabre areas of the Ashanti Region) and by Akans in Ivory Coast. It is also worn by many other groups who have been influenced by Akans. It is the best known of all African textiles.

It is an Akan royal and sacred cloth worn only in times of extreme importance and was the cloth of kings. Over time, the use of Kente became more widespread. However, its importance has remained and it is held in high esteem with Akans.

Meanings of the colours in Kente cloth:

black—maturation, intensified spiritual energy

blue—peacefulness, harmony and love

green—vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal

gold—royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity

grey—healing and cleansing rituals; associated with ash

maroon—the color of mother earth; associated with healing

pink—assoc. with the female essence of life; a mild, gentle aspect of red

Legend has it that Kente was first made by two Akan friends who went hunting in an the Asanteman forest found a spider making its web. The friends stood and watched the spider for two days then returned home and implemented what they had seen.

Styles Afrik Kente Designs

So to honour the 2 hunters here are some of the designs we have put together

So many of us around the globe are currently facing snow storms, blizzards or dreadful rain, however there is also a large proportion of us who are currently sunbathing in scorching temperatures. Unfortunately i am one of the many people living in a city that only experiences 2-3 months ( if we are lucky ) of sunshine a year and the majority of the time filled with either snow or rain….Have you guessed where yet?

That’s right the lovely city called ( LONDON ). So for those of you sunbathing right now or enjoying a nice stroll in the glorious weather [please spare 1 min to think about us while your sipping on a lovely cocktail with the breeze blowing through your hair.

So as i am sitting in the office drinking a cup of HOT Chocolate with the wind blowing outside and snow falling i had a thought!

“Should the weather dictate what we wear or should we dictate what we wear?” So many of us wait until we see a little sunshine before we start folding away the Greys and Blacks in our closets. ( Why is that? ) Surely if you feel liking wearing Pink or Yellow in the winter then you should go ahead and do so and not be looked upon like a complete lunatic.

I never understood why retail outlets immediately change all of the colours in-store as soon as Autumn/Winter appears forcing you to wear Blacks and Greys and Dark colours.

Winter should not be about blending into the dark miserable greys of the clouds. So today i say lets stand up to the WINTER BLUES and and bring in the WINTER BRIGHTS.

Many of you who may know me know that i have always loved and appreciated colour and building Styles-Afrik has given me the platform to embellish on that.

I don’t agree that you should wear that little black dress to the party or the club , why blend in with 100’s of other women surely those events are about standing out and bringing out your inner brightness.

So ladies and gents here is my suggestion every time you think about purchasing the same Black or Grey outfit think about this blog.

Here are some some suggestions to help keep you warm but also help to release your inner brightness.

If you like any of our designs and would like to see more please fill in the details below and we will forward you a catalogue.